Stressed Men Prone to Lower Sperm Count and Quality, says Study

According to a study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, psychological stress can affect the quality and number of sperm.

“Men who feel stressed are more likely to have lower concentrations of sperm in their ejaculate, and the sperm they have are more likely to be misshapen or have impaired motility,” said Pam Factor-Litvak, an epidemiologist at the Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, and one of the researchers. “These deficits could be associated with fertility problems.”

193 men between the ages of 38 and 49 were asked to participate in the study, wherein they were asked to rate their level of stress and what events led to this current state. Semen samples were also taken from the participants, evaluated in terms of their capability to fertilize eggs.

The study found out that life stress, and not work-related stress, affected the quality of their sperm, although the latter did lower testosterone levels. Still, study results also indicated that jobless men were found to have lower sperm quality than working men.

Said Teresa Janevic, Ph.D., an assistant professors at Rutgers University, “Stress has long been identified as having an influence on health. Our research suggests that men’s reproductive health may also be affected by their social environment.”